Banned Book Club: "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson
About this Event
The Banned Book Club is led by Bryn, dedicated to reading and protecting the most important and threatened books for our generation.
This month, we’re reading Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson — the beloved Newbery Medal-winning novel that has moved generations of readers with its story of friendship, imagination, and loss. When Jess Aarons befriends the spirited and unconventional Leslie Burke, the two create the magical kingdom of Terabithia, a refuge where they can escape everyday struggles and discover the power of creativity, courage, and connection.
Since its publication in 1977, this book has been frequently challenged with objections to its discussion of death, grief, religious questions, and what some have viewed as inappropriate language. Yet these very elements are central to the novel's enduring impact. Rather than shielding readers from difficult realities, Paterson offers a compassionate exploration of how children make sense of heartbreak and learn to carry loss forward.
Raw, compassionate, and visually striking, Flamer captures the intensity of growing up and the quiet courage it takes to survive it—reminding us that the stories most often silenced are the ones that help readers feel seen.
We will meet in person in the loft at our store at The Mark, 117 S. Pineapple Ave. The book club is $15.99, which includes a copy of Bridge to Terabithia to be picked up at Bookstore1 any time before our meeting.
Katherine Paterson is a legendary children’s books author whose work has garnered many awards, including two Newbery medals (Bridge to Terabithia in 1978 and Jacob Have I Loved in 1981), two National Book Awards (The Master Puppeteer in 1977 and The Great Gilly Hopkins in 1979), and the Laura Ingalls Wilder medal for her substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Some of her other award-winning books include Come Sing, Jimmy Jo, Flip-Flop Girl, Lyddie, and Stories of My Life. She served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 2010-2011 and is currently vice president of the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance. She lives in Vermont.
ABOUT BOOK BANS:
Books are under profound attack in the United States. PEN America's latest report, Banned in the USA: The Normalization of Book Banning, found that 6,870 books bans were enacted during the 2024-25 school year, across 23 states and 87 public school districts. And everywhere, it is the books that have long fought for a place on the shelf that are being targeted. Books by authors of color, by LGBTQ+ authors, by women. Books about racism, sexuality, gender, history. PEN America pushes back against censorship and the intolerance and exclusion that undergird it.
Check out some frequently asked questions about book banning: https://pen.org/book-bans/book-bans-frequently-asked-questions/
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 17.11
